Means for cooling transformers.



No. 854,277. PATENTED MAY 21, 1907. P. DARLINGTON. MEANS FOR COOLING TRANSFORMERS.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 25, 1906.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK DARLINGTON, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORA- TION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

MEANS FOR COOLlNG TRANSFORMERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 21, 1907.

- To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK DARLING- 'TON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Means for Cooling Transformers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to means for cooling electrical transformers and other heat-producing devices and it has for its object to provide means whereby heat may be dissipated from such devices more efliciently and economically than has heretofore been the case.

A problem that has heretofore presented serious difliculties to engineers is that of dissipating the heat produced intransformers and other electrical translating devices that supply power to railway and other distributing systems inhot climates Where water is scarce and expensive and where the temperature of the atmosphere, during a part of the time, may be nearly as high as the safe-working temperature of the devices. One of the prime requisites is that the stations should not require constant attendance and care, so that pumps, blowers and other artificial means for causing circulation of a cooling medium are in most cases prohibited.

According to the present invention, I propose to surround transformers and similar devices with a medium having a high thermal capacity in which heat may be stored during theday, or at times when it is produced more rapidlyt-han it can be dissipated, and. from which it may be radiated at night or other times when the temperature of the atmosphere is lower. The medium may also serve to convey heat away at such a rate that no other cooling means need be employed.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a vertical sectional view through a transformer that embodies my invention.

Located within a suitable receptacle 1 that contains oil 2 or another suitable insulating liquid, is a transformer 3 that is submerged in the insulating liquid. The receptacle 1 is located within a tank or reservoir 4, that may or may not have a materiallylarger volume than the receptacle, according to the amount of heat which it maybe necessary to store, and that is filled with water or an other liquid,

the specific heat of which is preferably high. The reservoir 4 is preferably so mounted that free circulation of air may occur over all its surfaces, and if desired, it may be corrugated or constructed in any suitable manner in order to provide an increased superficial area for radiation. I

It will be understood that during the operation of the invention, heat is conveyed by the oil from the transformer 3 to the receptacle 1, from whence it is conveyed to the surface of the reservoir 4 by means of the Water. Since the volume of the water is considerably greater than that of the oil within the receptacle, and also since the specific heat of water is greater than that of oil, the water provides a medium ofgreater thermal capacity than the oil. If the volume of the water is suitably proportioned to the conditions under which the transformer operates, it will absorb and store the heat that is generated in excess of that which may be dissipated imn1ediately, until conditions have moderated to such an extent as to enable dissipation of the heat at a greater rate than it is produced. Water, besides having a higher specific heat than oil, is also particularly suitable for the purpose of providing a medium of high thermal capacity because it will usually be cheaper, even in arid climates, than oil and it also reduces the fire risk. While, in general, it will be more satisfactory to depend upon a large superficial area for radiation to dissipate the heat, it may be desirable in some casesto employ other cooling means in addition, such as systemsof piping in which water or another cooling medium is circulated artificially. As here shown, the reservoir 4 is provided with a cover 5 which substantially prevents evaporation of. the water, but in some instances it may be desirable to employ open tanks or to remove the covers at times in order that dissipation of the heat may be aided by evaporation of the water.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a receptacle containing a heat-producing device and a liquid, of a liquid in which the receptacle is immersed having a greater thermal capacity than the liquid within the receptacle.

2. The combination with a receptacle containing a heat-producing device and a liquid,

of another liquid in which the receptacle is immersed having a higher specific heat than the aforesaid li uid.

3. The combination with aheat-producing device, a liquid surrounding the same, and a receptacle therefor, of a reservoir in which the receptacle is'located, and a liquid contained therein having greater specific heat than the aforesaid liquid.

4. The combination with a heat-producing device, a liquid surrounding the same, and a receptacle therefor, of a reservoir in which the receptacle is located, and a liquid contained therein having a greater thermal caoacity than the aforesaid liquid.

5. The combination with a heat-producing device, a liquid surrounding the same, and a receptacle therefor, of a reservoir of materi ally greater volume than the receptacle in which the heat producing device is located, and a liquid contained therein ofreater specific heat than the aforesaid liquicf cease? 6. The combination with a receptacle con taining an electrical translating device and an insulating liquid, of a liquid surrounding the receptacle having a greater thermal capac 'the receptacle having a higher specific heat than the insulating liquid.

8. The combination with a receptacle containing a heat-producing device and a liquid, of asubstance surrounding the receptacle that has a greater thermal capacity than the liquid in the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th day of June,

FREDERICK DARLINGTON. Witnesses:

OTTO S. SOHAIRER, BIRNEY HINEs. 

